asked the Minister for Local Government whether returning officers for local elections have been directed to prepare an analysis of party votes and transfers in local elections; and, if so, for what purpose this analysis is being prepared.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Elections Voting.
15.
Returning officers have not been so directed. They are, however, required by law to give public notice of the names and descriptions of the candidates elected and also, in the case of a contested election, of the total number of votes given for each candidate, whether elected or not, of any transfer of votes, of the total number of votes credited to each candidate at the end of the count at which such transfer took place, and the order in which the candidates were elected. A copy of such notice must, also by law, be sent to each person elected and to me.
I may add that local authorities have been requested to furnish returns to enable my Department to prepare the customary overall statistics of the elections. These returns will on this occasion because of the introduction of political Party affiliations give the percentage of first preference votes cast for each Party but otherwise will not include an analysis of the type mentioned by the Deputy.
In the light of the circular which issued from his Department to returning officers, is it the Minister's intention to prepare a return similar to that which is normally circulated after a general election and to make copies of it available to every member of every local authority, as he does in respect of a Parliamentary return to every Member of the Dáil?
It will be available so that anybody who wants one will get a copy.
May I take it that a return similar in form to that prepared after a general election is in contemplation and that it will be available to any member of a local authority who applies to the Minister for a copy?
A copy must be sent to every person elected——
In every constituency in Ireland?
That is provided by law.